So What About All These Community Gardens?

The City of Flagstaff’s Experience with

Community GardensRoger E. Eastman, AICP, Comprehensive

Planning and Code Administrator

Nicole A. Woodman, Sustainability Manager

So What About All These Community Gardens?

Supported by City Policy and Code?• 2001 Flagstaff Regional Land Use and

Transportation Plan, April 2001• Silent on community gardens and local agriculture• Urban Growth Boundary = no more sprawl!• ARS requires review and re-adoption every 10

years.

• 2014 Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030, May 22, 2014• Food policy recommendations submitted• Last minute revisions and edits• Result – also silent on community gardens and

local agriculture!

So What About All These Community Gardens?

Supported by City Policy and Code?• 2014 Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030• Goal ED3: Regional economic development

partners support the start-up, retention, and expansion of existing business enterprises. • Policy ED 3.7: Support and encourage

regional agriculture.

So What About All These Community Gardens?

Supported by City Policy and Code?• 2011 Flagstaff Zoning Code, November 1,

2011• Former Land Development Code was

complex, inconsistent, hard-to-use, and disliked by all • And it did not allow community gardens• New Zoning Code adopted after 3.5 years of

broad-based community participation• Success at providing for local food production

– be innovative!• Community gardens now specifically allowed.

So What About All These Community Gardens?

Supported by City Policy and Code?• 2011 Flagstaff Zoning Code, November 1,

2011• Section 10-40.60.140 Community Gardens

• Land used for cultivation of fruits, vegetables, plants, flowers, or herbs by multiple users

• Water supply required – support cultivation practices on site

• Operating rules and a garden coordinator – responsible• Specifically allowed on roof tops• No drainage to downstream properties• No retail sales; but produce from the garden may be sold• Shed to store tools and green houses – 120 sq. ft. max.• Maintenance required• In unmaintained or abandoned for >12 months, then

landscaped.

So What About All These Community Gardens?

Supported by City Policy and Code?• 2011 Flagstaff Zoning Code, November 1,

2011• Section 10-50.60.140 Landscaping Standards

• Food production sites (vegetable gardens) excluded from landscape standards

• Oasis standards do not apply to community gardens• Edible landscape plants are permitted.

• Section 10-40.30.050 Industrial Zones• Allows food production and composting facilities.

• Future amendments – more explicitly allow local food production in all zones.Roger E. Eastman, AICP, Comprehensive Planning and Code Administrator

reastman@flagstaffaz.gov(928) 213-2640

So What About All These Community Gardens?

Sowing Seeds in Flagstaff• 1st community garden established as a “pilot”

in 2009• Community desire• Vacant City property• High density neighborhood• Public transit route

• Launched Community Agriculture Project in 2010• Community gardens promote sustainable communities

by providing locally grown food and building a sense of community

• Partnered with Flagstaff Foodlink to manage existing garden and future gardens in 2010

• 2nd garden established as a “pilot” in 2010

• 3rd garden established in 2012 – property donated to the City as an educational site

• In 2013 community action helped establish 4th and 5th gardens

So What About All These Community Gardens?

Being Creative and Resourceful • Permit Agreement for operating a

recreational community garden

• Community garden participant waiver, release and hold harmless agreement

• Rules and guidelines for community gardens on City property

• Analysis of all City owned property to identify future gardens – gardens that would stay gardens

• Community grants and volunteers funded a majority of infrastructure, labor and supplies

• Partnered with Affordable Housing Section on Izabel and O’Leary gardens

So What About All These Community Gardens?

So What About All These Community Gardens?

So What About All These Community Gardens?

To this

So What About All These Community Gardens?

Building Community • Community

empowerment• Long term commitment • Work with neighborhood

before breaking ground• No fencing• Group or individual plots

• Senior and children plots

• Organic design• Summer workshop

series

So What About All These Community Gardens?

Lessons Learned• Neighborhood needs

may surprise you• Community partners are

critical to success• Reporting impact can be

challenging• What to measure?

Pounds? Bushels? Money saved during growing season?

• Infrastructure is expensive

So What About All These Community Gardens?

Nicole A. Woodman nwoodman@flagstaffaz.

gov 928.213.2149

www.facebook.com/FlagstaffSustainabilityProgram

www.flagstaff.az.gov/gardens